Supplementing certain contents guiding the Law on Intellectual Property of Vietnam

Article 1 of Decree No. 122/2010/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government amends certain contents of Decree No. 103/2006/NĐ-CP as follows:

- To amend Point h, Clause 2, Article 3 as follows:

"h/ To manage geographical indications belonging to their localities, including geographical names and other signs indicating the geographical origin of local specialties;"

- To amend Clauses 3 and 4 of, and add Clause 5 to, Article 19 as follows:

"3. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with People's Committees of provinces or centrally run cities in. identifying specialties, features of products and processes of production of specialties bearing geographical indications managed by ministries, branches or localities.

4. People's Committees of provinces or centrally run cities shall file applications for registration and organize the management of geographical indications used for local specialties and license the registration of collective marks or certification marks for geographical names and other signs indicating the geographical origin of local specialties.

5. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall specify criteria for identifying geographical names and other signs indicating the geographical origin of products."

Thus, in addition to the responsibilities specified in Decree No. 103/2006/NĐ-CP, Decree No. 122/2010/NĐ-CP supplements that People’s Committees shall also manage geographical indications belonging to their localities, including geographical names and other signs indicating the geographical origin of local specialties.

View more details at Decree No. 122/2010/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, effective from February 22, 2011.

Nguyen Phu

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